PurposeThe objective of the present work is to analyse the web pages of the principal European financial entities, with the aim of assessing the degree to which they are already disseminating information by internet in preparation for implementing the new requirements for transparency introduced by the New Capital Agreement of the Bank of International Settlements of Basel (Basel II).Design/methodology/approachThe study takes as its reference the literature existing on the examination of the quality of web pages, in particular the provisions of the Web Quality Model (WQM), and the importance of the content as a key variable in the quality of web pages. The normative requirements are converted into a disclosure index that is used to score the corporate web sites of all the banks quoted on the EuroStoxx Index. A linear regression analysis is performed in search for a relationship between size and degree of web transparency in the financial entities analysed.FindingsThe analysis of these entities shows that, to a certain degree, they have anticipated Basel II, and their web pages present a significant proportion of the information that will shortly be required. They seem to recognise the advantages of anticipating these new rules, in particular, and of greater transparency in general.Practical implicationsThe banking sector is responding efficiently to the requirements of the digital society, by greater transparency on the web and, in consequence, its image and the confidence of depositors are improving.Originality/valueTransparency in the banking sector is a topic of great interest in the current turbulent business environment. In these studies a systematised analysis is offered, to give a preview of the situation of generalised transparency that is coming closer through the requirements of Basel II.

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Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing literature on the pertinence of TALC (tourism area life cycle) to model and analyse mature destinations, using quantitative data and alternative functional forms. With this purpose, this work analyses the recent data on tourist demand in Tenerife (Canary Islands), which is supposed to be playing the role of “refuge” with respect to other competing resorts, when the latter ones present political instability after the so-called Arab Springs, particularly the Middle East and North Africa. Design/methodology/approach To analyse the data, and to explore potential epiphenomenon, nonlinear competing regression analysis were performed (logistic, Gaussian and logarithmic), taking into account some insights from tourism life cycle theories. Findings Some suggestions are presented for political management of these destinations that are still working under a moratorium on tourist infrastructure. Research limitations/implications Once the TALC is accepted – even under discussion – in the scholarly fore, certain incentives arise to identify, interpret and communicate signals of maturity. Public funds and specific policies (moratoria) can then be solicited to political instances. Further empirical research, complementary quantitative approaches, along with new data that confronts the evolution of demand in Tenerife with paulatine reactivation of competing destinations, will be strongly required to overcome the limitations of this first attempt and to properly determine the effectiveness of rejuvenation policies. Besides, additional quantitative data should be considered to explore the potential explanatory factors beyond the time series analysis into models that are more theoretical. Originality/value The results suggest that the diagnosis of maturity was at least premature in the first place, poorly based on data analysis and fast in promoting specific policies whose effectiveness is under discussion even after decades.

Purpose -The objective of this study is to measure the navigation quality of the corporate webpages of the principal European financial entities, given the vital importance of the accessibility of online content for the successful execution of their operational activities. Design/methodology/approach -The web quality model proposes a structure that allows the quality of corporate webpages to be analysed according to the three main quality criteria of content, presentation and ease of navigation (navigability). Bonsón et al. take this theoretical framework as their point of departure for analysing the webpages of the principal European financial entities, and they measure the quality of their content in the context of the extra significance these webpages will acquire when the new Basel II international regulations enter into force in the imminent future. In this study, a joint analysis is made of the results of both studies in order to classify European financial entities according to the strategy adopted for their web sites. Findings -The size of the entity behind the corporate webpage is revealed as the key variable that explains better navigability. There is also a positive relationship between the navigability and the content presented, which shows that companies' strategies for improving the quality of their web site tend to be harmonised in respect of these two criteria. Practical implications -The approach of most of the entities to their web presence can be characterised as informational in the sense that they are making substantial efforts to improve the content, driven by impending new regulation. However, they are still not utilising various devices available to make their web sites easier to navigate. Better navigability would improve user access to the enhanced information provided. Originality/value -The resources have been determined that are needed to improve navigability so that these entities can advance their web site strategies and provide a harmonious combination of adequate content and fast, easy access to that content.